Reports Yazidis 'massacred' in Iraq

Militants in northern Iraq have massacred at least 80 men from the Yazidi faith in a village and abducted women and children, reports say.

Islamic State (IS) fighters entered Kocho, 45km from Sinjar, on Friday afternoon, reportedly telling men to convert to Islam or die, the BBC reports.

The group's atrocities against non-Sunni Muslims have shocked the international community into action.

In New York, the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on IS members. It adopted a resolution expressing its willingness to impose sanctions on individuals recruiting, financing, supplying weapons or fighting for extremist groups.

The resolution, drafted by Britain, is aimed at weakening the IS insurgents in Iraq and Syria. The Council believes the group is dependent on outside financial support.

Earlier a British government minister, William Hague, condemned what he called acts of horrific sexual violence and slavery reportedly being carried out by the Islamist militants.

In another development, US military said two of its drones had attacked and destroyed two vehicles identified as belonging to IS near Sinjar on Friday morning, after receiving reports from Kurdish forces that the militants were attacking civilians in the village of Kawju.

The European Union, meanwhile, is to allow its member states to ship weapons to Iraq's Kurds with the approval of Baghdad.

IS fighters have been overrunning large parts of Iraq's west and north, causing hundreds of thousands to flee for their lives.

Sunnis propose deal with new PM

Sunni tribal leaders in Iraq have said they are ready to work with the new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, and fight against IS as long as his government restores Sunni rights.

At a news conference, one tribal leader called for a referendum on more autonomy for Sunni areas.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, deputy prime minister, Qubad Talabani, said it's vital to win the support of Sunnis if the IS is to be beaten.

The mainly Shia Muslim government is locked in a fight with IS, an extreme Sunni group leading an insurrection in the north.

Young Iraqi Yazidi refugees fill bottles with water at the Newroz camp in Hasaka province, north eastern Syria. Photo: AFP

Fighting has flared up in mainly Sunni Anbar province, west of Baghdad, parts of which have been under IS control, the BBC reports.

Earlier In New York, the UN Security Council also unanimously passed a resolution naming six people associated with IS or the Syria-based Nusra Front, who will be subject to an international travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

Christian and Yazidi people in northern Iraq have faced persecution by the jihadists, prompting US-led air strikes and aid drops.

IS-led violence has driven an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis from their homes. Whole communities of Yazidis and Christians have been forced to flee in the north, along with Shia Iraqis, whom IS do not regard as true Muslims.